I don't want to drive them long distances when I know it will be miserable for them, but they get sick within 5 miles. Is this a lifelong thing and it depends on the dog? Or is there something I can do to get them over it? I know about benadryl already, but giving them a benadryl is a last resort type of thing that doesn't always work and I prefer not to use drugs. Putting them in the bed of the truck is not an option either. That's one reason you see dog bodies on the highway. I see people driving around with their dogs going with them all over town. How do they manage this without having to clean dog barf out of the truck every time for weeks in a row?
I am hoping someone has a realistic solution.
thanks.
- Kevin
2007-02-09 16:05:08 · 13 answers · asked by Kevin 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
yes you can change this , it takes patients, first thing is when you know you want to take them in the truck make sure there stomachs are empty and they are pottied out. then start by going on a 3 mile ride away from home and 3 miles back, next time do the same thing then go 4 miles and 4 miles back. It takes patients and time, but it is conditioning that is the key, Ive tried this and it worked for me. pretty soon you can take them on long trips, good luck and happy rolling ps the drug to use is dramimine if all else fails
2007-02-09 16:23:50 · answer #1 · answered by gunter_thehunter 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might not be able to. Try one on one with a short ride to the store. Buy a Little Debbie peanut butter 6 pack of snack cookies for a quarter. Get the dog excited about it. Make sure the dog is sitting next to you, not in the back. Talk the whole time you go about getting a treat. Leave the dog in the car while you are in the store, make sure the dog can see the door with people going in and out. When you get back let the dog sniff the crakers. The rustle the package while you start the car and head back home. halfway there make sure you open the package and rub one of the crackers in your hand, take a bite of half, give the other half to the dog. Rub your smell hand all over the back of the dog. Repeat slowly until you get home, save some for the other dog. the other dog will smell the rider dogs back, thats important. makes the dog think they missed out on something. make a big deal out of crinkling the package, sit down in the living room and make them both sit and drool, you see its all about making rides fun and rewarding. take a half bite and give the rest to the dog that stayed home. then give half a one to both. give them lots of attention for a minute then watch the one that stayed home get all curious on the others back. next time in a day or so make an announcement, "who wants to go to the store?" and soon they will equate rides with fun.
2007-02-09 16:22:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They could be vomiting because of hyperventilation caused by stress. Many dogs get apprehensive about getting in a car because it usually equates with bad things. The first time they were taken from their mother, going to the vet, visiting family members with children with sticky hands who pull fur, etc...
Find someplace close by (hopefully within the five miles) that they will be able to have fun at. A reservation or park where they can walk around and maybe get close to the water. Play with them for a little while so that you know they are having a good time. Pet them while in the car on the way home or just talk to them soothingly. (i know some people don't like to talk to their dogs but they know their names and tones of voice so it really does help) Once you get home give them their food or a treat. Try to do this a few times a week. They will eventually begin to equate the car with having fun with you and get more used to being in it.
2007-02-09 16:18:34 · answer #3 · answered by goil 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's just like with people. Some dogs just get car sick. The best thing you can give is dramamine or bonine. You'll need the proper dosage amount from your vet. I'm a vet tech & I have a dog that gets horribly car sick. When he travels with us, it's bonine. I also have another dog that no matter how much dramine or bonine he takes, he just sends it right back up till his stomach is empty & then goes to sleep for the rest of the trip.
That is one thing you can do though, don't feed them before a long trip.
2007-02-09 16:16:07 · answer #4 · answered by pritigrl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have one dog that could not make it out of town without throwing up. The vet advised us to feed her about 4 tums before we leave. It does help, she can go further, but not too far. Now we can take her for a couple of hours in the car, we have an SUV where she can sit in the back with access to fresh air, and have not had any problems at all with her and she enjoys going places
2007-02-09 16:50:35 · answer #5 · answered by Gary S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My little poodle who is now 16 had this problem. My vet suggested I try training her out of it by 1st just letting her sit in the car a few minutes, for a few days. Then once she became adjusted to this, I began taking her on very short trips, like just up th street & back, then around the block & back. I kept on till she could go atleast 30 minutes without barfing. She still does not like to ride in the car, but she does not barf anymore either..
2007-02-09 16:19:20 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My mom had a dog that never got over carsickness. We started out going on short rides, like a block and then letting her get out. Gradually my mom increased the time in the car. That SORT of worked. Sometimes the dog would be fine on a long drive, sometimes she would get sick within minuets of being in the car. She never got over it so when we went on long trips we had to drug her. It wasn't bad. She would go right to sleep and then wake up fine when we got to our destination.
2007-02-09 16:18:10 · answer #7 · answered by Ambie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try short trips. Sometimes, you can take them to your local fast food and get them a burger, minus the bun, pickles and all the other stuff. That way, they will associate the outing as something fun. If that doesn't work, you can get motion sickness pills for dogs. We had to get something for my daughter's dog because he barfed all over my father! He was fine after that.
2007-02-09 16:12:43 · answer #8 · answered by lucy7 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If your dog is not use to long
road trips it might be a good idea to get him accustomed to being
in the car longer than a trip to the grocery store..
Keep your dog cool. If you don’t have air conditioning in the
car, make sure you have a window down to let in fresh cool air.
If you are going on long trips, don't feed them..just give water.. if they get hungry..have small portion of dog treats .
Even for 6 hours drive, they can wait for the regular feeding schedule..I have 6 months shih tzu, we go on trips a lot,,he just lay down or sleep when we are on the car and let him eliminate when he needs too and then give water.. we use the radio..and he likes the music and he goes to sleep all the way...it takes lot of training to get them used to..
I always used radio..even when we have to leave him in the house alone.....I was impressed with the couple on the parking lot, enjoying their trips and dogs are sitting on the back of the car, they 're having snacks I guess..and I said..why can't I do that? so I did train him and started taking him out on our short and long trips.. and I think he enjoys being in the car than being left out at home..and no drugs please..
2007-02-09 16:18:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is SO weird. but it worked for me...
Feed your dog a couple ginger snap cookies (you acn by them in any cookie isle at any grocery store). There's something in ginger apparently. (think getting sick and drinking ginger ale) DON'T feed them raw ginger because it could be too much and make them sick, but my vet said 2-3 ginger snap cookies about 10 minutes before the car ride...it worked for me. Good luck!
2007-02-09 16:16:03 · answer #10 · answered by Green Booger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋